SYSTEME A HAUTE EFFICACITE POUR RECUEILLIR L'ENERGIE SOLAIRE ET STOCKER L'ENERGIE ACCUMULEE DE MANIERE REVERSIBLE, UTILISATION ET FABRICATION DUDIT SYSTEME

HIGH EFFICIENCY SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING SOLAR ENERGY AND FOR STORING COLLECTED ENERGY IN A REVERSIBLE WAY, USES OF THE SYSTEM AND MANUFACTURING THEREOF

Abrégé anglais

A high efficiency system for collecting solar energy and for storing said
collected energy in a reversible way, said
system comprising:
- a concentrating solar dish unit assembly having a rotational axis, which
solar dish unit assembly comprises at
least one rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system;
- a heat storage system configured to receive, store and provide, when
required, the heat energy collected
through a thermal fluid circulating through said heat transfer collector, and
- means for circulating the heat transfer fluid from said at least one heat
transfer collector to the said thermal
storage unit and/or means for circulating a heat transfer fluid heated in the
said heat storage system to an
exterior element to be heated.
A high efficiency system for collecting solar energy and for storing said
collected energy in a reversible way, said
system comprising:
- a concentrating solar dish unit assembly configured to heat a heat transfer
fluid circulating in a heat transfer
collector positioned close to the focus of said concentrating solar dish unit;
- a heat storage system configured to receive, store and provide when
required, heat energy collected through a
thermal fluid circulating through said heat storage system, said heat storage
system comprising at least one
housing wherein an assembly of n (n being superior or equal to 1) one-piece
radiator/heat exchanger unit, and
- means for circulating the heat transfer fluid from said at least one heat
transfer collector to the said thermal
storage unit and/or for means for circulating heat transfer fluid heated in
the said heat storage system to an
element to be heated.
Use of the high efficiency systems for the reversible storage of solar heat
energy and process for manufacturing the
thermal storage system according to anyone of claims I to 56, by using
assembling methods such as extrusion,
melding and screwing.

Revendications

CLAIMS
1. A high efficiency system for collecting solar energy and for storing said
collected energy in a reversible way, said
system comprising:
- a concentrating solar dish unit assembly having a rotational axis, which
solar dish unit assembly comprises at
least:
- one rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprising at
least one solar mirror, at least one
heat transfer collector positioned above the concave part of said supporting
solar collector and to receive light
reflected from said parabolic solar collector, said heat transfer collector
being connected, preferably in a rigid
way, to the said parabolic self-supporting solar collector,
- one structural rotational system configured for positioning, by rotation
around said rotational axis, the rigid
parabolic self supporting solar collector system in an optimised positioning
relative to the positioning of the
solar beam at the place; and
- preferably one solar beam detection system configured to analyse the
specification, such as the positioning
and such as the intensity, of the solar beam at the place and to send
optimised positioning parameters to said
structural rotational system, said solar beam detection system being
preferably positioned on a edge of the
lateral side solar mirror;
- a heat storage system configured to receive, store and provide, when
required, the heat energy collected
through a thermal fluid circulating through said heat transfer collector; and
- means for circulating the heat transfer fluid from said at least one heat
transfer collector to the said thermal
storage unit and/or means for circulating a heat transfer fluid heated in the
said heat storage system to an
exterior element to be heated; the heat transfer fluids being preferably the
same .
2. A high efficiency system for collecting solar energy and for storing said
collected energy in a reversible way, said
system comprising:
- a concentrating solar dish unit assembly configured to heat a heat transfer
fluid circulating in a heat transfer
collector positioned close to the focus of said concentrating solar dish unit;
- a heat storage system configured to receive, store and provide when
required, heat energy collected through a
thermal fluid circulating through said heat storage system, said heat storage
system comprising at least one
housing wherein an assembly of n (n being superior or equal to 1)one-piece
radiator/heat exchanger unit
comprising of lateral tubes and central tubes for heat exchange between a
first fluid, flowing or not flowing,
inside one of said tubes and a second fluid, flowing or not flowing, outside
one of said tubes, each of the tubes
having a cross-section, walls and a pair of ends, the said lateral tubes being
symmetrically positioned adjacent to
the said central tubes, the axis of each said tubes being about parallel and
positioned about the same plan or
positioned in parallel plans, each of the lateral tubes sharing a common wall
with at least one of the central tubes
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and the lateral tubes being, at least two by two, connected by the walls of
the central tubes that are not shared
with the said lateral tubes, and
- means for circulating the heat transfer fluid from said at least one heat
transfer collector to the said thermal
storage unit and/or for means for circulating heat transfer fluid heated in
the said heat storage system to an
element to be heated.
3. A high efficiency system for collecting solar energy and for storing said
collected energy in a reversible way,
according to claim 1,wherein the heat storage system configured to receive,
store and provide when required, heat
energy collected through a thermal fluid circulating through said heat storage
system, said heat storage system
comprising at least one housing wherein an assembly of n (n being superior or
equal to 1) one-piece radiator/heat
exchanger unit comprising of lateral tubes and central tubes for heat exchange
between a first fluid, flowing or
not flowing, inside one of said tubes and a second fluid, flowing or not
flowing, outside one of said tubes, each of
the tubes having a cross-section, walls and a pair of ends, the said lateral
tubes being symmetrically positioned
adjacent to the said central tubes, the axis of each said tubes being about
parallel and positioned about the same
plan or positioned in parallel plans, each of the lateral tubes sharing a
common wall with at least one of the
central tubes and the lateral tubes being, at least two by two, connected by
the walls of the central tubes that are
not shared with the said lateral tubes volume defined by the external walls of
the at least one-piece radiator/heat
exchanger unit and the internal walls of the housing is at least partially
filled by at least one thermal absorbing
material which is a solid-liquid phase change material.
4. A high efficiency system, according to claim 2, wherein said concentrating
solar dish unit assembly has a rotational
axis, which solar dish unit assembly comprises at least:
- one rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprising at
least one solar mirror, at least one
heat transfer collector positioned above the concave part of said supporting
solar collector and to receive light
reflected from said parabolic solar collector, said heat transfer collector
being connected, preferably in a rigid
way, to the said parabolic self-supporting solar collector,
- one structural rotational system configured for positioning, by rotation
around said rotational axis, the rigid
parabolic self supporting solar collector system in an optimised positioning
relative to the positioning of the
solar beam at the place; and preferably one solar beam detection system
configured to analyse the
specification, such as the positioning and such as the intensity, of the solar
beam at the place and to send
optimised positioning parameters to said structural rotational system, said
solar beam detection system being
preferably positioned on a edge of the lateral side solar mirror.
5. A high efficiency system, according to claims 3 or 4, wherein the rigid
parabolic self-supporting collector system
comprises one solar beam detection system configured to analyse the
specification, such as the positioning and
such as the intensity, of the solar beam at the place and to send optimised
positioning parameters to said structural
rotational system, said solar beam detection system being preferably
positioned on a edge of the lateral side solar
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mirror.
6. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein
said heat storage unit being at least
partially filled with a suitable amount of a thermal absorbing immersing
material to store heat from the heat
transfer fluid through the assembly of radiator/heat exchanger units.
7. A high efficiency system according to anyone of claims 1 and 3 to 6,
wherein said rigid parabolic self-supporting
solar collector system comprises a reinforced structure supporting the at
least one solar mirror.
8. A high efficiency system according to anyone of claims 1 and 3 to 7,
wherein said rigid parabolic self-supporting
solar collector comprises at least:
- a rigid parabolic self-supporting mirror system, which mirror system can be
made of various elementary
mirrors having preferably the same features, particularly the same curves, to
receive solar radiation and to
concentrate at least portion of said solar radiation on said heat transfer
collector;
- a reinforced structure for supporting said parabolic mirror, which
reinforcing structure being positioned
under said parabolic mirror;
- a heat transfer collector, preferably a heat transfer tube, positioned to
receive light reflected from said
parabolic solar collector, said heat transfer tube being positioned at a
position that is parallel to the axle of
said parabolic mirror and that is sensibly constant relative to the spatial
positioning of the parabolic self-
supporting mirror;
- a heat transfer tube support positioned under said heat transfer tube for
assuring support and rigidity of said
heat transfer tube;
- a structural rotational system that is a wheel system comprising at least
two parallel external wheels having
sensibly the same diameter and positioned at opposite extremities of said
solar dish unit;
- a mechanical system connected to the said structural wheel system for
positioning said dish unit according
to the position of the solar beam comprising a motor that may be positioned in
the calo-arm; and
- a beam detection system and a conversion unit for providing said mechanical
system with instructions foe
positioning said structural wheel system.
9. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 1 and 3 to 8,
wherein the concentrating solar dish unit
assembly, presents at least one of the following specifications:
- said parabolic self-supporting mirror being attached directly or indirectly
to the structural wheel system,
- said reinforced structure comprising at least 3 rails, a spinal rail and two
edge rails connected together by
reinforcing elements which are attached directly and/or indirectly to the
internal part of the two external
wheels,
- each of the 2 lateral sides of said parabolic self-supporting mirror being
attached and/or supported to/by one
of the at least 2 edge rails;
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- the spinal rail being connected to the edge rails by the said reinforcing
elements;
- said heat transfer tube being inside the cylinder defined by the 2 external
parallel wheels, and positioned at
the focal of the beam; and
- the heat transfer tube support being attached to the spinal tube and to the
heat transfer tube and being
perpendicular to the spinal rail to the heat transfer tube.
10. A high efficiency according to anyone of claims 1 and 3 to 9, wherein the
structural rotational system of the
concentrating solar dish unit assembly is configured to be able to position
the system from 0 to 360 degrees, an in
a non use position wherein the rotational angle of the wheel system may vary
from 0 to 180 degrees relative to the
use position, preferably the non-use rotational angle is about 200 degrees.
11. A high efficiency system according to anyone of claims 1 and 3 to 10,
wherein the heat collector of said solar dish
unit assembly has a low to very low emissivity that,as measured according to
ASTM E408-71, is preferably between
3 and 10 %, and is more preferably about 5 %.
12. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 1 and 3 to 11,
wherein, in the solar unit assembly, the
combination of the parabolic solar collector system and of the self-supporting
reinforced structure allows the entire
system to make up the forces applied (especially shear and torsion) without
adding special piece.
13. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 3 to 12, wherein,
in the solar unit assembly, the
freestanding said parabolic mirror is made of a sandwich structure preferably
of a "honeycomb" type structure.
14. A high efficiency system according to anyone of claims 1 and 3 to 13,
wherein, in the solar unit assembly, at least
the concave surface of the self-supporting parabolic solar collective system
is reflective.
15. A high efficiency system assembly according to claims 13 and 14, wherein
structural strength and sustainability
of the curvature of the said mirror is achieved through the sandwich structure
which provides the necessary rigidity
with low weight, in addition to ensuring high precision optics.
16. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 13 to 15, wherein
structural strength and sustainability of
the curvature of the mirror is achieved without mechanical maintenance or
additional torque.
17. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 14 to 16, wherein
said sandwich structure auto carrier
can be disassembled from the front of said solar unit assembly and regardless
of the complete structure.
18. A high efficiency system according to anyone of claims 1 and 3 to 17,
wherein said reinforced structure of the
solar unit assembly is composed of three reinforced rails positioned in a
triangle.
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19. A high efficiency system according to claim 18, wherein in said reinforced
structure the 2 edge rails are identical
and are preferably tubes and the third rail named spinal rail is preferably a
tube.
20. A high efficiency system according to claims 18 or 19, wherein the
reinforcing elements are diagonal
reinforcement bars.
21. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 18 to 20, wherein
the 3 rails are designed, preferably
with tracks, to make possible riveting with diagonal reinforcement bars
(without adding extra room).
22. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 18 to 21, wherein
the positioning of the 3 rails in a
triangle made by the diagonal reinforcement bars can give shape to the
structure to accommodate the solar collectors
or dishes.
23. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 9 to 17, wherein
the two side rails allow radial
positioning of parabolic solar collector and its holding it in the
predetermined position, this result may be achieved,
for example, by riveting.
24. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claim 8 to 18, wherein,
in the solar unit assembly, said
structural circular wheel, which is fixed, on the structure, allows rotation
of the assembly in order to pursue the sun's
orientation.
25. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 2 to 24, wherein,
in the one-piece radiator/heat
exchanger unit, the lateral tubes are configured for the circulation of a
liquid and/or for the circulation of a solid
and/or for the circulation of a gaseous phase, and the central tube is
configured for the circulation of a gaseous and/or
for the circulation of a fluid phase.
26. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 2 to 25,wherein,
in the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger
unit, the parts of the external walls of said tubes that are not common to
other of said tubes are equipped with fins,
that are preferably symmetrically distributed on the surface of said external
wall of said tubes.
27. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 2 to 26, wherein,
in the one-piece radiator/heat
exchanger unit, the cross-section of the lateral tubes is about circular and
the cross-section of the central tube is about
rectangular.
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28. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 2 to 27, wherein
the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger
unit comprising 3 tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid flowing inside
the tubes and a second fluid flowing
outside the tubes, each of the tubes having a cross-section and a pair of
ends, 2 of the tubes (the lateral tubes) being
symmetrically positioned adjacent to the 3 third tube (the central tube), the
3 tubes having axes that are about parallel
and positioned about the same plan, each of the 2 lateral tubes sharing a
common wall with the central tube and the 2
opposite lateral tubes being connected by the 2 walls of the central tube that
are not shared with the said 2 lateral
tubes.
29. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 2 to 28,
comprising 6 tubes for heat exchange between a
first fluid flowing inside the tubes and a second fluid flowing outside the
tubes, each of the tubes having a cross-
section and a pair of ends, 3 of the tubes (the lateral tubes) being
symmetrically positioned adjacent to 2 of the other 3
tubes (the central tube), the 6 tubes having axes that are about parallel and
positioned in parallel plan, each of the 3
lateral tubes sharing a common wall with each of the 2 adjacent central tubes
and 2 opposite lateral tubes being
connected by the 2 walls of the central tube that are not shared with the said
2 lateral tube, the section of the 3 lateral
tubes defining the 3 edges of the triangular cross-section of said one-piece
radiator/heat exchanger unit and the
section of the central tubes defining the 3 sides of the triangular cross-
section of said one-piece radiator/heat
exchanger unit.
30. A high efficiency system, according to claims 28 or 29, wherein, in the
one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit, the
common shared wall of the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit is curved.
31. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 28 to 30, wherein
in the one-piece radiator/heat
exchanger flat walls, surrounding the at least three cavities, are preferably
perpendicular to the external surfaces of
each tube to which they are connected with, and act like longitudinal fins
thereby promoting direct exchange area
between the walls that are preferably metal walls and the fluid circulating
outside the walls of said radiator / heat
exchanger.
32. A high efficiency system, according to claim 31, wherein said
radiator/heat exchanger can be immersed in a third
fluid that may be used as a heat buffer, this fluid is preferably a polyol,
more preferably mannitol.
33. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 28 to 32, wherein,
in the one-piece radiator / heat
exchanger, the length (L) of the rectangular section of the central tube
represents about 1,5 to 2,5 the diameter (d) of
the circular section of each of the at least 2 lateral tubes.
34. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 28 to 33, wherein,
in the one-piece radiator / heat
exchanger, the width of the rectangular section of the central cavity
represents about half the diameter of the circular
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section of each of the 2 lateral cavities.
35. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 28 to 34, wherein,
in the one-piece radiator / heat
exchanger, the width of the flat walls surrounding the at least three
cavities, are about the diameter of the circular
section of each of the at least 2 lateral cavities.
36. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 4 to 35, wherein
in the one-piece radiator/heat exchanger
the width (w) of the flat walls surrounding the at least three cavities, are
about 1 to 1.5 the width of the rectangular
section of the central cavity.
37. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 2 to 36, wherein
the one-piece radiator / heat exchanger
is made of extruded aluminum.
38. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 6 to 37, wherein
the thermal absorbing material (solid-
liquid) present in the heat storage system is an organic or inorganic or is a
mixture of organic and inorganic materials.
39. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 38, wherein the
organic material is selected in the group
of the sugar, thermo oil, indalloy, and paraffin and the inorganic material is
for example among the salt sand stin,
magnesium nitrate, magnesium sulphate, lead, steel, cupper, and aluminum
sulphate and phosphate, granite, concrete.
40. A high efficiency system according to claims 38 or 39, wherein the thermal
absorbing material is stable for at
least 4 000 cycles, preferably for at least 5000 cycles, or for 5 years.
41. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 38 to 40, wherein
the thermal absorbing material has a
phase transition temperature ranges from 100 to 250 degrees Celsius,
preferably ranges from 150 to190, preferably
about 170 degrees Celsius.
42. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 38 to 41, wherein
the thermal absorbing material has a
thermal capacity in solid phase ranging from 1000 to 3000, preferably ranging
from 1500 to 2500, more preferably
being about 1893 kJoule par m3 .K in the case of mannitol.
43. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 38 to 42, wherein
the thermal material has an absorbing
capacity in liquid phase ranges from 3000 to 5000, preferably ranges from 3500
to 4000, more preferably being about
3972 in the case of mannitol.
44. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 38 to 43, wherein
the at least one housing is a metal
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tank, a concrete tank, or a high temperature polymeric material.
45. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 38 to 44, wherein
the at least one housing is thermically
isolated.
46. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 2 to 45, wherein
the heat exchanger is configured to
allow heat exchange of the liquid-liquid type and of the liquid-solid type,
and optionally of the liquid-vapour type and
or additionally of the solid-vapour type.
47. A high efficiency system A thermal storage unit according to 47, wherein
the heat exchanger is of the radiator /
heat exchanger (for example ref: patent radiator / heat exchanger) type.
48. A high efficiency system A thermal storage unit according to anyone of
claims 2 to 47, wherein the heat
exchanger is constituted by a multitude of elementary element that are
connected together by a manifold and said
manifold being connected to a net wherein the heat transfer fluids circulate.
49. A high efficiency system according to claim 48, wherein the manifold to
distribute fluids in the assembly of
radiator / heat exchanger.
50. A high efficiency system according to anyone of claims 1 to 49, wherein
the thermal storage system comprises a
multiplicity of thermal storage units as defined in anyone of claims 4 to 49.
51. A high efficiency system according to claim 49, wherein the units are
connected in parallel and or in series.
52. A high efficiency system according to anyone of claims 1 to 51, wherein
said thermal storage system comprises at
least a thermal storage unit and at least one heat exchanger with a variable
heat exchange capacity.
55. A high efficiency system according to anyone of claims 1 to 51, wherein
the heat storage system is configured to
be submitted to a, preferably slight, overpressure, preferably of an inert
gaz, when necessary.
56. A high efficiency system, according to claim 55, wherein the light
overpressure is created by an expansible
housing which unit or system communicates with said expansible housing.
57. Use of a system, as defined in anyone of claims 1 to 56, for the
reversible storage of solar heat energy.
58. Use according to claim 57 for the reversible storage of solar heat energy
in the solar industry, food industry.
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59. Process for manufacturing the thermal storage system according to anyone
of claims 1 to 56, by using assembling
methods such as extrusion, melding and screwing.
60.A high efficiency system, according to anyone of 1 to 5 and 7 to 15,
wherein:
- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid
circulating in the second tube ; or
- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the
fluid circulating in the second tube; or
- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid
circulating in the second tube ; or and
- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the
fluid circulating in the second tube.
61.A high efficiency system, according to anyone of 1 to 28 and 30 to 56,
wherein, in the one-piece radiator/heat
exchanger,:
- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid
circulating in the second tube ; or
- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the
fluid circulating in the second tube; or
- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid
circulating in the second tube ; or
- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the
fluid circulating in the second tube;
- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid
circulating in the third tube ; or
- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the
fluid circulating in the third tube; or
- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the same that the fluid
circulating in the third tube; or
- the fluid circulating in the first circular tube is the different of the
fluid circulating in the third tube.
62.A high efficiency system, according to claim 29 to 56, wherein, in the one-
piece radiator/heat exchanger, the fluid
and its state, gaseous, liquid or solid, in the central triangular tube
defined by the wall of the rectangular tubes, is
the same or different from the fluid or from the state of the fluid
circulating in the circular or rectangular tubes.
63. A high efficiency system, according to anyone of claims 1 to 7 and 10 to
56, wherein the concentrating solar dish
unit assembly comprises at least:
- a rigid parabolic self-supporting mirror system, which mirror system can be
made of various elementary
mirrors having preferably the same features, particularly the same curves, to
receive solar radiation and to
concentrate at least portion of said solar radiation on said heat transfer
collector;
- a reinforced structure for supporting said parabolic mirror, which
reinforcing structure being positioned
under said parabolic mirror and supporting part of the back of said rigid
parabolic self-supporting mirror
system, preferably said reinforced structure is a circular tube or a circular
tube longitudinally cut in
order to have 2 contact surfaces between said cut tube and the back of the
said parabolic mirror, having
an axis about parallel to the mirror axis;
- a heat transfer collector, preferably a heat transfer tube, positioned to
receive light reflected from said
parabolic solar collector, said heat transfer tube being positioned at a
position that is about parallel to the axle
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of said parabolic mirror and that is sensibly constant relative to the spatial
positioning of the parabolic self-
supporting mirror;
- a heat transfer tube support positioned under said heat transfer tube for
assuring support and rigidity of said
heat transfer tube, preferably the heat transfer tube support is connected to
said reinforced supporting
structure;
- a structural rotational system that is a wheel system comprising at least
two parallel external wheels having
sensibly the same diameter and positioned at opposite extremities of said
solar dish unit;
- a mechanical system connected to the said structural wheel system for
positioning said dish unit according
to the position of the solar beam comprising a motor that may be positioned in
the calo-arm; and
- a beam detection system and a conversion unit for providing said mechanical
system with instructions foe
positioning said structural wheel system.
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Description

CA 02748537 2011-08-04
0002-A-PROV1
HIGH EFFICIENCY SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING SOLAR ENERGY AND FOR STORING
COLLECTED ENERGY IN A REVERSIBLE WAY, USESD OF SYSTEM AND MANUFACTURING
THEREOF
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of high efficiency solar energy collecting
and storing systems.
The invention also relates to use of the high efficiency systems for the
collection of solar energy and for the
reversible storage of solar heat energy.
Additionally, the invention relates to process for the manufacturing of the
high efficiency systems.
The system fits well with both alternative and traditional energies, but also
with waste heat (fireplaces, start etc...).
Since there are gaps between demand and production of energy, the systems of
the present invention act as a
moderator of consumer surplus by absorbing and then returning on demand.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
US Patent Application number 2008 0078380 Al describes a concentrating solar
energy collector comprising a) a
heat collector; b) first and second identical or substantially identical
panels forming at least a portion of a housing;
and a first reflector positioned within said housing to receive solar
radiation and concentrate at least portion of said
solar radiation on said heat collector.
US Patent Application number 2008 0083405 Al describes a concentrating solar
energy collector comprising a) a
frame or housing; b) a heat collector; and c) a first electrically deformable
reflector ; said first elastically deformable
reflector being at least substantially flat absent deforming force; d) wherein
said frame or housing id configured to
receive said first elastically deformable reflector in a shape that
concentrates at least a portion of said solar radiation
on said at least heat collector.
US Patent Application number 2011 0067692 Al describes a foam backed solid
support structure and trough solar
energy collector. A support structure has foam or other polymeric material, a
plurality of end arms, and a plurality of
end caps secured to the formed foam material. The foam material is cut into a
parabolic or semi-parabolic shape, and
a reflective element may be placed onto the formed foam material and secured
mechanically, with adhesion, and/or
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CA 02748537 2011-08-04
integrated with the surface. A solar energy collector formed using a polymeric
core may have longitudinally-
extending cowling, end caps, and end arms as described.
US Patent Application number 2010 0236600 Al describes a solar energy
collector array comprising a plurality of
rows of solar energy collectors having a first deflector adjacent to a first
row of the solar energy collectors and second
deflector adjacent to a second row of the solar energy collectors.
US Patent Application number 2011 0067692 describes a trough solar energy
collector having a rotational axis
comprising a collector tube, a first reflective panel and a second reflective
panel, (i) each of said first and second
reflective panels comprising a honeycomb or polymeric core having an arc-
shaped surface a reflector on the arc-
shaped surface of the polymeric core cowling along a longitudinal edge
extending along the polymeric core and
extending parallel to the rotational axis of the solar collector (ii) the
first reflective panel being positioned to
illuminate a first side of the collector tube, (iii) the second reflective
panel being positioned to illuminate a second
side of the collector tube.
US Patent Application 2011 0073104 describes examples and variations of
apparatus and methods for concentrating
solar radiations with trough solar energy collectors are disclosed. A support
assembly for a trough solar energy
collector has a plurality of transverse ribs attached to longitudinal rails
and end assemblies secured to the rails. End
assemblies may attach to longitudinal rails through transverse ribs, and guy
wires may span from one of the end
sections to the other. Transverse ribs may be formed of two rib sections with
semi-parabolic shape. Solar energy
collecting panels may be placed on the ribs and secured with cowlings and
transverse panel-retaining strips, for
instance.
In one variation, a trough solar energy collector, comprising: a support
assembly for supporting one or more solar
energy collecting panels, said support assembly further comprising: (a) a
plurality of longitudinal rails; (b) a first
transverse rib and a second transverse rib both secured to said plurality of
longitudinal rails, wherein each of said ribs
has a shape approximating an arc of a cylindrical or parabolic surface; and
(c) a first end assembly and a second end
assembly both secured to said plurality of longitudinal rails; wherein each of
said first and second transverse ribs is
formed from at least two rib pieces; said rib pieces forming part of said
cylindrical or parabolic surface, said first and
second rib pieces having portions overlapping one another at an apex, minimum,
or vertex of said cylindrical or
parabolic surface; at least one solar energy collecting panel; and a collector
tube positioned to receive light reflected
by said collecting panel.
US patent application number 4 080 703 describes a heat exchanger in the form
of a heat radiating or absorbing panel
is disclosed, which consists of an aluminum panel having a copper tube secured
thereto in heat exchange relationship.
The panel has at least one pair of parallel, spaced, retainer legs that have
angularly inwardly extending flanges. A
copper tube of circular cross section is laid into the channel formed by said
retainer legs, and is then squashed by
means of a die into a generally oval cross section which will be confined
within the retainer legs. While so confined,
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CA 02748537 2011-08-04
fluid under pressure may be introduced into the tube to expand it into
intimate contact with the panel, the retainer legs
and the flanges. The assembly may then be heated during the expanding step to
a temperature somewhat above the
expected operating temperature of the assembly, to prevent loosening of the
intimate contact between the tube and
panel, which have different coefficient of expansion. Provision may be made to
cause flow through the tube to be
turbulent or swirling. Alternatively, the introduction of fluid under
pressure, and the heating of the assembly, may be
omitted, and the sum of the inside surface of the back of the panel between
the flanges, the inside surfaces of the
flanges, and the underside of the die between the flanges, may be made equal
to the outside circumference of the
tube. The exposed surface of the panel may be configured to increase its area
and to provide good exposure over a
wide range of angles of incidence. The heat exchange relationship between the
tube and panel may be enhanced by
interposing a thin layer of a synthetic resin between; and the resin may have
powdered metal entrained therein. If
dimensional relationships alone are relied upon to provide intimate contact
between the tube and panel, a mastic-like
material in a thin film may be applied to the interface between the tube and
panel to improve heat transfer and seal
out moisture.
US patent number 5 048 602 describes a heat exchanger includes a core and a
pair of headers, the core including flat
tubes and corrugated fins sandwiched between the tubes, the headers having
holes in which the end portions of the
tubes are inserted, wherein each tube comprises a stop means for ensuring that
an adequate length of the tubes
become inserted in the headers.
US patent number 6 155 340 describes a heat exchanger comprises a plurality of
flat tubes for heat exchange
between a first fluid flowing inside the tubes and a second fluid flowing
outside the tubes. A pair of hollow headers is
connected to the ends of the flat tubes. An inlet and outlet are provided in
the headers for introducing the first fluid
into the flat tubes and discharging it therefrom. Each header is composed of
at least two parallel tubes with
substantially circular cross-section, two adjacent tubes having integrated
wall portions, thereby providing a
substantially flat header.
US patent number 6397931 describes a finned heat exchanger is disclosed. The
heat exchanger includes a unitary fin
array with a multiplicity of fin banks. Each of the fin banks include a
plurality of raised, folded fins for heat transfer.
The fin banks extend in a transverse direction and are spaced apart in a
longitudinal direction. The fin banks are
retained within the fin array by looped expansion turns. The fin array is
mounted on a dielectric substrate base. A
closed flow channel for directing a flow of coolant is created by adding a cap
to the substrate base.
US patent application 2011 000657 describes an extruded tube for a heat
exchanger is provided that includes two at
least approximately parallel outer side walls that extend in a longitudinal
direction and a transverse direction of the
extruded tube and that are connected by two outer narrow sides in a vertical
direction of the extruded tube, wherein at
least one continuous web extends between the side walls in the longitudinal
direction and in the vertical direction and
separates at least two ducts of the extruded tube, and wherein at least one of
the outer side walls has embossings that
3

CA 02748537 2011-08-04
serve to form both bulged portions that project into the ducts of the side
walls and also bulged portions that extend
substantially in the transverse direction of the web, wherein the bulged
portions of the at least one web have a
controlled orientation with respect to the transverse direction.
EP 2 273 224 describes the unit (15) has an interior duct (17) i.e. extruded
duct, comprising a set of longitudinal
internal channels that circulates fluid. A hollow exterior envelope (19) is
hosed in the interior duct and manufactured
using a strip. Two ribbed walls (19a) are arranged on either side of the
interior duct to delimit another set of
longitudinal channels (29) for circulating another fluid that is in contact
with the interior duct and the exterior
envelope. The latter set of channels is extended in parallel to the former set
of longitudinal internal channels. An
independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing a heat
exchange unit between two fluids
The main downside of alternative and/or renewable energies is their
spontaneous production. There is no control of
production, we basically have to capture it and store it when it is available.
Our design provides a new approach using, for example, the enthalpy of
materials combined with an efficient heat
exchanger in order to capture the thermal energy, notably the sun's, and store
it in dense thermal capacitor in order to
restore it within minimum losses at the desired period.
Numerous systems have been proposed for storing thermal energy in a reversible
way.
US patent 4 270 523 describes a heat storage apparatus comprising a plurality
of heat exchanger elements mounted in
a housing. Each element has a central portion containing a storage medium,
surrounded by portions through which a
first and a second heat transfer fluid can be passed in heat contact with said
storage medium. Means are provided for
passing the heat transfer fluids from respective supply conduits through the
apparatus through the respective portions
of the heat exchanger elements to respective discharge conduits.
US patent 6 400 896 B I describes a heat exchanger for a phase change material
including a container holding the
phase change material, a tube surrounding the container to define an annular
space therebetween, and preferably
divider walls within that annular space to create a circuitous path for heat
exchange fluid to be routed in multiple
passes along the length of the container when passing from the top of the
annular space to the bottom of the annular
space. When the heat exchanger is operated in a melt cycle, multiple heat
energy transfer elements positioned within
the lower portion of the container and extending through the phase change
material are heatable to a sufficiently high
temperature to initiate melting of the phase change material. The heat energy
transfer elements are preferably
electrical resistance heated rods or coils, or tubes through which is routed
high temperature fluid. When the heat
exchanger is operated in a freeze cycle, heat exchange fluid at a low enough
temperature to initiate freezing of the
phase change material typically is introduced into the top of the annular
space. In an alternate embodiment in which
water is employed as a phase change material, the heat energy transfer
elements are used in the freezing cycle, and
heat exchange fluid flowing through the annular space is used in the melting
cycle.
4

CA 02748537 2011-08-04
US patent 7 441 558 B2 describes an active thermal energy storage system is
disclosed which uses an energy storage
material that is stable at atmospheric pressure and temperature and has a
melting point higher than 32 degrees F. This
energy storage material is held within a storage tank and used as an energy
storage source, from which a heat transfer
system (e.g., a heat pump) can draw to provide heating of residential or
commercial buildings and associated hot
water. The energy storage material may also accept waste heat from a
conventional air conditioning loop, and may
store such heat until needed. The system may be supplemented by a solar panel
system that can be used to collect
energy during daylight hours, storing the collected energy in the energy
storage material. The stored energy may then
be used during the evening hours to heat recirculation air for a building in
which the system is installed.
US patent 7 793 651 B2 describes a heat storage apparatus includes heat
storage panels having primary fluid passages
formed therein; passage plates having secondary fluid passages formed therein;
and heat reservoirs. The heat storage
panels and the passage plates are layered alternately, and the heat reservoirs
are interposed between the heat storage
panels and the passage plates in such a manner that the heat reservoirs, the
heat storage panels and the passage plates
are adhered to one another. Protrusions are formed on surfaces of the heat
storage panels in such a manner that the
heat reservoirs are supported by the protrusions.
JP patent application number 5032963 provides a novel nontoxic heat storage
material noncorrosive to heat storage
vessels, also capable of storing great quantities of thermal energy in
elevated temperature range, consisting mainly of
a specific sugar alcohol with high melting point and high latent heat of
fusion such as erythritol. The objective heat
storage material consisting mainly of a sugar alcohol selected from
erythritol, mannitol and galactitol. If such a heat
storage material as to be relaxed in supercooling phenomena is desired, a
nucleating agent (e.g. pentaerythritol) for
said sugar alcohol. is pref.
In JP patent application number 11044494 (A) To prevent the deterioration of
heat storage material to improve
durability and obtain efficient heat storage function as well as heat
exchanging function by a method wherein
specified heat storage material is used and a space in a storage tank is kept
at a positive pressure under the
atmosphere of inert gas. SOLUTION: A heat storage device is constituted of a
reserving tank 1, in which a heating
source 2 and the flow passage 3 of heat exchanging medium are accommodated,
and a heat storage material 4, into
the reserving tank. A Sugar alcohol, having the principal constituent of
erythritol, mannitol or the like, is used as the
heat storage material. An electric heater, such as a pipe type and the like,
is used as a heating source 2 and the electric
heater having the capacity of the degree of 0.5-20 kW, for example, is used in
accordance with the internal volume of
the reserving tank 1. A space 5 in the reserving tank 1 is retained at a
positive pressure under the atmosphere of an
inert gas in order to avoid internal leakage into the reserving tank 1.
Nitrogen gas is used as the inert gas from the
view point of cost. The concentration of oxygen in the space 5 is preferably
to be not higher than 100 ppm
5

CA 02748537 2011-08-04
There was a further need for a system that addresses at least one of the
problems of the prior art systems, and
preferably all of them.
There was a further need for efficient uses of solar energy and for processes
for manufacturing the recovering of
valuable by-products during recovering, in an environmental and acceptable
way, of reusable by-products.

CA 02748537 2011-08-04
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
35 Figure 1: represents a general perspective view of a highly efficient
system (S), for recovering solar energy by solar
energy concentration, wherein a module consisting of a multiplicity of series
of interconnected one-piece
radiator/heat exchanger according to a first embodiment of the present
application is incorporated therein.
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CA 02748537 2011-08-04
Figure 2: represents a perspective side view of the streamlined structure of a
solar dish unit of the assembly as
represented in Figure 1.
Figure 3: represents a perspective back view of the streamlined structure of
the solar dish unit assembly according to
the preferred embodiment of the parabolic solar collectors represented in
Figure 2.
Figure 4: represents a side view of the streamlined isometric structure of the
solar dish unit assembly according to the
preferred embodiment of the parabolic solar collectors represented in Figures
1 to 3.
Figure 5: represents an aerial view of the streamlined structure of a solar
dish unit assembly according to the
preferred embodiment of the invention as represented in Figure 2.
Figure 6: represents a vertical cross view, in a vertical crossing the left
wheel, of the streamlined structure of the solar
dish unit assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the invention
represented in Figures 2 and 3,
this view showing 2 supporting elements ant the parabolic solar reflector.
Figure 7: represents a front view a), a side view b) and a perspective view of
the structural wheel of the solar dish unit
assembly represented in Figure 2.
Figure 8: is a perspective view and a detailed view of the rotating mechanism
of the rotating ring inside the internal
wheel represented in Figure 7.
Figure 9: is a perspective vertical side view of a Calo-arm that supports the
heat transfer tube represented in Figure 2.
Figure 10: represents a horizontal cross view a) and an horizontal perspective
side view b) of the calo-arm
represented on Figure 9.
Figure 11: represents the detailed of the Calo-clam a front view a), side view
b), perspective view c) and linear view
d) attaching a Calo-arm and a heat transfer tube according to the preferred
embodiment of the invention
represented in Figure 2.
Figure 12: represent a perspective view of the solar beam connected to the
rotating mechanism in Figure8.
Figure 13: represents a perspective view one joint between heat transfer tubes
at focal point.
Figure 14: represents the exploded view and split view of joints between 2
heat transfer tube as use in the a cross
section, according
Figure 15: represents the general diagram of the highly efficient system (S)
represented in Figure 1.
Figure 16: is a perspective view of a line of solar dish unit, with supporting
means apparent.
Figure 17: I a perspective view of the system S mounted on the flat roof of a
dairy plant.
Figure 18: represents a perspective view a) and an horizontal cross view of a
one-piece radiator/heat exchanger unit
according to a first preferred embodiment of the present application.
Figure 19: represents a side view of a heat exchanger series of 8 one-piece
radiator/heat exchanger units according to
a first preferred embodiment of the present application.
Figure 20: represents a detailed perspective vertical side view of a module
constituted by 10 series of 8
interconnected one-piece radiator/heat exchanger units according to the first
preferred embodiment
represented on Figure 19.
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CA 02748537 2011-08-04
Figure 21: represents a detailed perspective vertical side view of the
superior part of the module represented on
Figure 20.
Figure 22: represents a perspective vertical view of a one-piece radiator/heat
exchanger unit according to a second
preferred embodiment of the present application wherein the cross-section
represents 3 circular tubes and
3 flat tubes, each of the circular tube being adjacent to 2 of the circular
tubes.
Figure 23: represents the manifold used to connect units in the embodiment
represented on Figure 20.
Figure 24: represents the module of Figure 20 mounted with the manifold
represented on Figure 23 and positioned in
a tank placed inside an assembled tank with inert gas blanket system.
Figure 25: represent an alternative to supporting means as described according
to the first embodiment of the
invention; is perspective view of the back of supporting structure based on a
cylinder (c), with additional
supporting and attaching means (al, a2, a' I et a'2)
GENERAL DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is a high efficiency system for
collecting solar energy and for storing said
collected energy in a reversible way, said system comprising:
- a concentrating solar dish unit assembly having a rotational axis, which
solar dish unit assembly comprises at
least:
- one rigid parabolic self-supporting solar collector system comprising at
least one solar mirror, at least one
heat transfer collector positioned above the concave part of said supporting
solar collector and to receive light
reflected from said parabolic solar collector, said heat transfer collector
being connected preferably in a rigid
way, to the said parabolic self-supporting solar collector,
- one structural rotational system configured for positioning, by rotation
around said rotational axis, the rigid
parabolic self supporting solar collector system in an optimised positioning
relative to the positioning of the
solar beam at the place; and preferably one solar beam detection system
configured to analyse the
specification, such as the positioning and such as the intensity, of the solar
beam at the place and to send
optimised positioning parameters to said structural rotational system, said
solar beam detection system being
preferably positioned on a edge of the lateral side solar mirror;
- a heat storage system configured to receive, store and provide, when
required, the heat energy collected
through a thermal fluid circulating through said heat transfer collector; and
- means for circulating the heat transfer fluid from said at least one heat
transfer collector to the said thermal
storage unit and/or means for circulating a heat transfer fluid heated in the
said heat storage system to an
exterior element to be heated; the heat transfer fluids being preferably the
same .
A second object of the present invention is a high efficiency system for
collecting solar energy and for storing said
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CA 02748537 2011-08-04
collected energy in a reversible way, said system comprising:
- a concentrating solar dish unit assembly configured to heat a heat transfer
fluid circulating in a heat transfer
collector positioned close to the focus of said concentrating solar dish unit;
- a heat storage system configured to receive, store and provide when
required, heat energy collected through a
thermal fluid circulating through said heat storage system, said heat storage
system comprising at least one
housing wherein an assembly of n (n being superior or equal to I )one-piece
radiator/heat exchanger unit
comprising of lateral tubes and central tubes for heat exchange between a
first fluid, flowing or not flowing,
inside one of said tubes and a second fluid, flowing or not flowing, outside
one of said tubes, each of the tubes
having a cross-section, walls and a pair of ends, the said lateral tubes being
symmetrically positioned adjacent to
the said central tubes, the axis of each said tubes being about parallel and
positioned about the same plan or
positioned in parallel plans, each of the lateral tubes sharing a common wall
with at least one of the central tubes
and the lateral tubes being, at least two by two, connected by the walls of
the central tubes that are not shared
with the said lateral tubes, and
- means for circulating the heat transfer fluid from said at least one heat
transfer collector to the said thermal
storage unit and/or for means for circulating heat transfer fluid heated in
the said heat storage system to an
element to be heated.
A third object of the present invention is the use of a system, as defined in
the first object of the present invention,
for the reversible storage of solar heat energy.
A fourth object of the present invention is a process for manufacturing the
thermal storage system according to
anyone of claims 1 to 56, by using assembling methods such as extrusion,
melding and screwing.
PREFERED EMBODIMENT
The invention is a thermal storage unit to receive, store and provide heat
through thermal fluids (coolants, for
example), it includes:
= at least one housing (such as a metal tank) for containing at least one heat
exchanger and at least one thermal
absorbing material which is preferably an phase change material (solid-liquid)
organic or inorganic with a
stable life time resistance (number of cycles 4 000), with a phase transition
temperature ranging from 100 -
250, preference 150-190, preferably about 170 Celsius in the case of mannitol
such as temperature de
mannitol, with a volumetric thermal capacity in solid phase ranging from
1893 kJoule par m3 .K, at solid phase being about 3972 at liquid state,
preferably which can be isolated used
as a container for the entire system.
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= An assembly of radiator / heat exchanger (for example ref: patent radiator /
heat exchanger) to transfer heat
between the storage device and the thermal fluid(s).
= A suitable amount of said thermal absorbing material immersing material to
store heat and heat transfer fluid
through the assembly of radiator / heat exchanger.
= A manifold to distribute fluids in the assembly of radiator / heat
exchanger.
EXAMPLE:
The following example is given as a matter of illustration only and should not
be interpreted as constituting any
limitation of the scope of the invention.
Example 1- Dairy plant:
The installation partially represented in Figure 1 comprises a highly
efficient system (S) for recovering solar energy
by solar energy concentration by using a battery (1) of parabolic solar
collectors (7) according to the present
invention. The system (S) was implemented as a complementary energy system for
the industrial dairy plant (P) and
installed on the roof of the dairy plant as apparent on Figure 17.
The battery (1) is connected to the heat storage system (2) by means of the
tubular connection (alternatively replaced
industrial piping) (3).The tubular connection (4) feed the battery (1) of
parabolic solar connectors with the cold fluid
coming from the dairy plant (P). The tubular connection (5) connects the heat
storage system (2) with the plant and
feed the plant (P) with heated fluid.
In the case of the present example, the battery (1) comprises 6 rows of 120
feet of parabolic solar collectors (7) of the
said elements covering 252 square meters, the parabolic solar connectors are
connected in series, in 6 parallel lines, of
solar collectors units.
The pump and expansion tank system (6) assures the circulation of the fluids
in tubular connections (4) and (5) and
absorbs the volumetric differences due to thermal expansion and contaction of
the fluid circulating in tubular
connections (4) and (5). The thermal storage system (2) comprises a radiator /
heat exchanger assembly (8) positioned
inside the walls of the heat storage system (2).
The parabolic solar collectors (7) are installed on the roof (9) of the dairy
plant and cover a surface of 252 square
meters. The collectors have an approximate efficiency of 70% on an average
sunny day, they can absorb 700 Watts of
the 1 000 watts received per square meters of ground covered by the parabolic
collectors. The solar energy thereby

CA 02748537 2011-08-04
captured is then converted to thermal energy as a heat transfer fluid is
circulated at the apex of the parabolic solar
collectors (7) on the heat transfer tube (10).
The solar collectors (7) of the invention are mechanised in order to be able
to follow the sun path as the day advances.
This solar path tracking is obtained by the solar beam apparatus (100) mounted
on the solar concentrators in junction
with a mechanical motor and drive (M) to adjust accordingly the collector's
position relative to the sun.
The solar collector (7), represented on Figure 2, is 1,25 meter broad and the
parallel side wheels (20) and (21) have a
diameter of 1,20 meter.
The rigidity of the self-supporting structure solar collector (7) is assures
by 2 rails (27) and (28), each end of a rail
being connected to the internal surface on one of the two parallel side wheels
(20) and (21) and by the spinal rail (26)
also connecting the two side wheels.
The parabolic surface (31) is constituted by the two adjacent parabolic
mirrors (21) and (22). In the present example
the parabolic mirrors are made of laminated aluminum with a reflective film.
The two lateral edges of the two adjacent parabolic mirrors (21) and (22) are
fixed respectively to the rails (27) and
(28) of the self-supporting structure.
The rigidity of the self-supporting structure is also created by 6 diagonal
supporting elements (25) (only 3 of them are
apparent on Figure 2) and by 4 vertical supporting elements (34).
Each of the supporting elements (25) connecting 2 adjacent parallel vertical
supporting elements (34).
Each vertical supporting element (34) connecting the spinal rail (26) with one
of 2 lateral rails (27) and (28).
The heat transfer tube (29) is maintained in a predetermined fixed position
above the concave part of the mirror and
relative to the focus of the mirrors (22) and (23), by means of the 2 so
called Calo-arms (47) and (48) perpendicularly
attached respectively to the extremity (49) and to the center (50) of the heat
transfer tube (29). The Calo-arms (47)
and (48) being also attached, respectively to the left extremity and to the
center of to the spinal rail (26).
The Cabo-arms (47) and (48) are identical and represented in a more detail way
in Figures 9, 10 and 11. The Calo-
arms (47) and (48) is constituted by a shaft (200) with parallel guides (201)
in form of structural grooves (70) and by
arise (?) (71). The connecting element (73) is made of an annular part (203)
positioned around the circular section of
the heat transfer heating tube (29) and ends by two flat parts (204) and (205)
represented in Figures l la, I lb, I Ic and
lid.
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The Solar beam sensing system (d) is of the Analogue Guy type is generally
represented on Figure 2 and in details on
Figure 12. The Solar beam sensing system (d) comprises a cylinder (80), 2
photovoltaic cells (82) and (83) measuring
the positioning (by means of 2 reference angles), an half disc (100) assuring
the presence of a shaded zone for one of
the photovoltaic cells, 2 photovoltaic cells measuring the positioning (by
means of 3 reference angles) of the mirror in
respect of the solar beam, and a supporting plate (81) that support the half-
disc and the photo-sensors (82) et (83).
Globally the Solar beam sensing system (d) identifies the optimal positioning
of the solar beams relative to the
position of the soar dish and comprise a calculating module configured to send
positioning instructions to the motor
(M).
The solar beam sensing system detects solar potential and steer precisely the
structure (via the mechanical system)
towards optimal solar collection. In order to place the pair of mirrors (22)
and (23) in the appropriate position
respective the solar beam and for a maximum recovering efficiency during the
complete period of the day
wherein the system (S) is in function.
During the night, or when the intensity of the solar beam is too weak, the
assembly of mirrors rotates in a
protective mode wherein the heat transfer tube (29) is in under the convex
part of the mirrors (22) and (23).
Then, the back parts of the mirrors (22) and (23) act as protectors against
rain, hail, ice or any other
environmental aggressive natural element. The assembly of mirrors will return
in operational mode as soon as
the operational conditions are present.
The assembly of mirrors of supporting elements, of rails of heat transfer tube
and of Calo-arm are connected in a
solider(?) way rotates by means of the structural wheels (20) and (21) and on
the 3 contact points (61), (62) and (63)
apparent on Figure 7c.
Once the heat is transferred thought the walls of the heat transfer tube (29)
from the solar beam to the heat transfer
fluid that in the present case is XCELTHERM Grade 500, then the heat transfer
fluid is pumped by means of pump
system (6) through the thermal storage system which comprises a heat exchanger
(8) of the types plates heat
exchanger, or shell heat exchanger, with a maximum heat storage capacity of
209 kWh.
The heat transfer fluid in the system (S) is pumped and controlled by a
control system, the circulatory pump, an
expansion tank positioned in pump and extension tank (6) and various types of
valves and plumbing fittings.
The control system measures the thermal storage system's temperature and
evaluates if the need of heat is required, if
so, it sends a signal to the solar collectors (7) to verify if there is
sufficient solar potential to heat and if so, it starts the
12

CA 02748537 2011-08-04
pump and begin to ramp up the heat transfer fluid through the solar collectors
(7) and then through the storage system
(2).
In the storage system is, in the case of the present example, a phase-change
material (in this case mannitol which is at
least 99 % pure) which undergoes a phase change at temperatures around 170 C.
The metal tank of the heat storage system (s) has approximate exterior
measurements as follows: 96" x 37" x 37"
without insulation (add 11 " thickness all around if you use mineral mats).
In this tank made of metal lays the heat exchanger/radiator which is submerged
in the phase-change material. So the
heat storage tank allows heat exchange between 3 fluids:
- hot heat transfer fluid;
- cold heat transfer fluid; and
- phase-change material.
In summary the advantages of the new thermal processing apparatus include:
= The invention is distinguished by its versatility, its manufacturing cost
that can be very low, and its
robustness. Indeed it is possible to give the tank any dimensions and
proportions necessary depending on the
intended use, its simplicity and its shape also provide very good strength.
= You may use any type of material, fluid or solid phase to store thermal
energy when they are compatible with
the surrounding environment.
= The circulation of the heat transfer fluid occurs through the thermal
storage material which is relatively static
(depending on the physical properties of the chosen thermal storage material).
= The surface to volume ratio of thermal exchange between the storage material
and the heat exchanger /
radiator is high.
= The tank has been designed to allow an inert blanket system in order to
protect the internal heat storage
material from oxidation and degradation. Indeed an airtight lid allows the
introduction of an inert gas.
Description of the potential:
= Radiator mode: Direct Exchange from two similar fluids circulating in the
circular cavity to the surrounding
medium. This mode can be regarded as 100% thermal dumping or 100% thermal
extraction by the same
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CA 02748537 2011-08-04
module.
= Hybrid mode: staged heat transfer between the 3 fluids within one module.
1. Between the primary fluid flowing in one of the two circular cavities and
the secondary fluid flowing in the
other circular cavity.
2. Between primary and secondary fluids and the external medium.
= Direct heat exchanger:
Direct thermal exchange between two fluids through walls connecting the two
circular cavities (or tubes)
= Various possibilities of fluids internal oil, water, glycol, etc..
= The manufacturing process allows for a variety of materials to be used for
the profile (metal, plastic,
composite).
= Various immersing material, gas, solid phase change material etc ....
= Assembly in series or parallel by U-bends in order to have a multiplication
of infinite possibilities (number
and arrangement)
= Variety of materials for the tank manufacturing
= Immersion of said tank in the ground.
Although the present invention has been described with the aid of specific
embodiments, it should be understood that
several variations and modifications may be grafted onto said embodiments and
that the present invention
encompasses such modifications, usages or adaptations of the present invention
that will become known or
conventional within the field of activity to which the present invention
pertains, and which may be applied to the
essential elements mentioned above.
14